No. 2 NJC sweeps MCC volleyball in straight sets

STERLING, Colo. – No. 2 Northeastern Junior College won its 13^th straight match Tuesday at home downing the McCook Community College volleyball team in straight sets.

The Plainswomen won 25-23, 28-26 and 25-19.

"We had a few opportunities to at least take a set, but mentally just couldn't get it done," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza.

NJC has won its last 24 sets and improves to 25-2 on the season and leads the Region IX South standings at 6-0.

For MCC, sophomore Jessie Jerome (Rawlins, Wyo.) had a double-double with 11 assists and 10 digs to go along with three kills, three assist blocks and two aces. Kayten Hagan (freshman, Amherst HS) led MCC with 13 assists and added seven digs.

Defensively, Greta Bolognini (sophomore, Parkview Christian, Lincoln, Neb.) led the way with 18 digs. Freshman Caylin Barnett (Southwest HS) was credited with five digs.

On the attack, freshman Romina Martinez (Cochabamba, Bolivia) had eight kills and added four digs. Sophomore Fernanda Merancio (Lamar, Colo.) had six kills. Jordan Duzenack (sophomore, Loveland, Colo.) had six kills, two digs and an assist block. Freshman Rowan Tribelhorn (Yuma, Colo.) had one assist block.

Gabby Caskey (sophomore, Ogallala) had four assist blocks in the middle and two kills. Sophomore Gracen Tuttle (Ogallala) had one assist block and freshman April Conilogue (Longmont, Colo.) had one kill.

MCC falls to 17-11 and 2-4 in the Region IX South standings.

"I think the motivation for us right now is that when we lose, we learn and we have three days to learn before our next match," said Kobza.

On Saturday MCC will travel to Scottsbluff for another Region IX South match with the second-place team in the standings, Western Nebraska.

REGION IX

SOUTH STANDINGS

                                    W-L     PCT.              OVERALL        

Northeastern JC         6-0       1.000              25-2     (.926)  

Western Nebraska      4-1         .800              13-13    (.500)

Trinidad State JC        3-2         .600              13-13    (.500)

McCook CC                2-4         .333              17-11   (.607)  

Lamar CC                  1-4         .200                8-14   (.364)

Otero JC                    0-5        .000                 6-17   (.261)  

Remaining Region IX SCHEDULE

Oct. 14 – MCC at Western Nebraska, 3 p.m.

Oct. 20 – Otero JC at MCC, 6 p.m.

Oct. 21 – Trinidad State at MCC, 2 p.m. (Sophomore game)

Oct. 28 – MCC at Lamar, 3 p.m.